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Local News

Friday, November 20, 2009

Drainage plan approved for Liberty Dold Farms
New Auto Show Feb. 12-14 -Findlay Village Mall
By LINSEY MAUGHAN

STAFF WRITER

The Hancock County Commissioners on Thursday approved the drainage improvement plan for the Liberty Dold Farms Subdivision.

Plans include deepening the neighborhood's detention pond and installing a valve duct to regulate water flow between the pond and a nearby stream.

Installation of a storm sewer that was previously considered by the commissioners, and which was opposed by Liberty Dold residents because of its cost, was not approved as part of the plan.

The estimated cost of the project is $166,000, and anyone owning property in the neighborhood will be responsible for paying a portion of the cost.

Hancock County Engineer Steven Wilson said the expanded detention pond should do a better job of protecting the neighborhood from flooding.

“The capacity of the detention pond was originally designed to handle a five-year storm. That's a rainfall that you could expect to see once every five years,” he said. “The size is being expanded to handle a storm you could see once every 100 years.”

The plan involves deepening the pond from about three feet deep to about eight or 10 feet deep, but will not alter the area of the pond much.

Wilson said that when rainwater collects in the streets of the subdivision, the water will flow into the pond. The pond's increased depth will prevent water from stagnating in the streets as it has in the past. Additionally, the valve duct to be installed will regulate water drainage from the pond to the nearby stream.

“Right now what's happening is there's not enough storage volume in the pond,” Wilson said. “So if the stream is high, it actually backs the water up so the water lays in the streets in the subdivision. By increasing the size of the pond, we're confident the water will be able to get out of the streets in the subdivision and into the pond.”

Wilson said the commissioners' action on Thursday has “given us the authority to proceed to get competitive bids for doing the improvements to expand the detention pond.”

But plans could still be subject to change, according to Wilson, because property owners in the Liberty Dold subdivision have 30 days to file an appeal.

Wilson said the cost per property owner is estimated at just above $900. Starr Commonwealth for Boys, which is the largest landowner in the subdivision, will be charged just under $49,000. The payments can be made either in one lump sum or can be added to each property owner's property taxes over a period of years.

If there is no appeal, Wilson said bids could be accepted after the start of the new year, and work on the project could begin during the winter months if the ground is acceptable. The project should take no more than two months to complete.

“I think it will be a good improvement and it should help to alleviate the street flooding that's occurred,” he said.

The neighborhood has flooded multiple times in the past few years, and Wilson said some residents have had water leak into their basements. But he said the basement problems are most likely unrelated to the streets flooding.

“We don't think the street flooding in and of itself has caused those problems,” he said. “It may be just a case that the basements were constructed improperly. Once repaired, basement problems have gone away.”

While the pond work should stop the streets from flooding, trouble could still loom ahead for some residents.

“By no means are we guaranteeing these improvements will eliminate the basement problems,” Wilson said.


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1 Comment

Jeff Davidson wrote:
Good Job
“ One half of the project is better than nothing. The cost/benefit analysis is there --$900 cost over 7 or 10 years versus a $10,000 rise in property values as Libert-Dold flooding goes away as the "taint" leaves this Dold subdivision. I find it interesting that the Courier posted a comment on improproperly constructed basements. In my opinion, someone should check into whether Dold Homes had basement construction issues. In my further opinion, Dold shouldn't be permitted in this subdivision again.
Jeff Davidson
jadavidson@columbus.rr.com
 ”
Wednesday, November 25, 2009 5:22:36 PM
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A trip to Washington, D.C. that Findlay and Ottawa officials were planning to make this week has been postponed because of the inclement weather.

Findlay Mayor Pete Sehnert said officials have rescheduled the trip for Feb. 23 to meet with a lobbying group and congressional representatives regarding federal spending on flood control projects.

Fostoria requires clearing sidewalks
FOSTORIA -- Fostoria residents are responsible for removing snow and ice from sidewalks within 12 hours of a storm, according to police Capt. Patrick Brooks.

The city code covers residential owners or tenants, and business owners of properties which abut a sidewalk.

An offense is a minor misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $100. Each day constitutes a separate offense.

Library in Forest reschedules event
FOREST -- Because of the expected inclement weather, the Forest-Jackson Public Library has rescheduled its Valentine luncheon planned for Thursday to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 18.

Reservations are required. Anyone with questions can call the library at 419-273-2400.

Disc golf tourney set for Saturday
The Ray Heverling Charity Ice Bowl Tournament has been rescheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Riverbend Recreation Area, off Ohio 568 east of Findlay.

Registration begins at noon.

The tournament was canceled last Saturday because of a snowstorm.

The Disc Golf Community Association, in cooperation with the Hancock Park District, sponsors the event. Proceeds go to the Family Center of Findlay-Hancock County.

For more information contact Nathan Buck at p_nate@thecatalystcc.com or 419-306-7405. Entry fee is $20. Additional donations are accepted.

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Crime Of The Week
Findlay/Hancock County Crime Stoppers is looking for information about a break-in at the Arlington Pharmacy, 200 Main St., at 12:51 a.m. Dec. 28.

A glass pane in the front door of the business was shattered, and entry was made. Once inside, the perpetrators took prescription medications and fled on foot.

Two white males were seen running from the business. The males were possibly in their late teens to early 20s, and possibly entered a vehicle.

People with information about this or any other crime that would lead to an arrest or indictment will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Crime Stoppers can be called weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 419-425-TIPS or 419-425-8477. Callers can remain anonymous.

The Web site is www.hancockcrimestoppers.org.